Snow Goose ?

Got a nice snow goose I want to mount.However this is my first and I have a few questions. I appologise in advance if these are stupid questions :)

#1 how do you get all the meat and the brains out of the head. I know once its cleaned I pack it with clay and stick on my mail order goose eyes. but this is really tough getting the brains and stuff out. Is there anything I can inject to mitigate this. (For right now guessing a small incision, a drill in through the skull, and a dental tool for the muscles in the forward head...)

#2 the legs, do I just schlack them? or do I have to inject something in there.

#3 are the feet attached to the mount (going to use a piece of driftwood) by running the control wires through the bottom of the feet or with crazy glue?

#4 the wings. there's some meat in there (just a bit, but the cuts are going to be difficult to patch, any recommendations

#5 is there anything you spray on the bird to make sure bugs don't crawl in...or does the borax take care of that?

thanks all, happy new year
Sean

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Time out

Sean, I would recommend that you put your bird in the freezer until you can get some good resources for bird taxidermy. Get a good video or two and a how-to book as well. Read and watch several times to get familiar with the methods used. Once you have done that you will have the answers to a lot of questions with pictures to aid in understanding the process.You can then hit the orange search button and list all kinds of questions and see the answers that have already been answered! GOOD LUCK with the bird.

recommendations

Thanks for the quick response. I'd be okay to pull out the main body (so I can eat it) before freezing it though right? Also any recommendations for books/videos. I have a few old books form my father in law but nothing specific on birds past ducks.

Thanks
Sean

Stefan Savides

Go to the main page here and click on taxidermy suppliers with web sites. Research Mannikins offers 2 videos by Stefan Savides--one flying and one standing. Save your time and frustration and get the videos and study them, not just watch.

BTW, on waterfowl, you will be much happier using cast heads from any supplier.

Reference

Sean, Don't skin the bird till you are ready to mount it. You can use the body to order the foam one or use the measurements to wrap your own. You can get books from any supplier above. I like the Newmyer bird taxidermy book and the Breakthrough bird manual. Savides and Luke and Newmyer all do videos. Your options are endless as to resources. You will also want a good reference book so you can tell what your bird should look like when mounted. I like BTW's idea of the cast head but you can use the real head as well. Study your books and videos and then ask questions and get your bird mounted. ENJOY your experience! Jim